Ministry against lynching of suspects - Okaija

House expresses concern about spate of armed robbery

Parliament ratifies two loan agreements

Accra (Greater Accra), 22^nd July 99-

Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior, said on Wednesday that the sector is taking the necessary action to discourage and stop the lynching of suspected criminals by mob action.

This, he said, involves prompt apprehension and prosecution of people caught indulging in the practice.

Additionally, the Ministry educates members of the public belonging to neighbourhood watchdog committees not to lynch, or in any way, brutalise, persons they arrest.

Nii Okaija, who was answering questions during "Question Time' in Parliament, said however, that it is not the responsibility of the Ministry, and for that matter, the police, to educate the public on the provisions of the constitution relating to fundamental human rights and freedoms.

"Such education falls within the purview of the National Commission on Civic Education", he said.The Minister was responding to a question by Mr Joseph Darko-Mensah, NPP-Okaikoi North who wanted to know measures the Ministry is taking to stop the lynching of suspected criminals in blatant disregard and contravention of their fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Mr Darko-Mensah also wanted to find out what steps the Ministry was taking to educate the public on provisions of the constitution on fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Asked whether the Ministry has any working relationship with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Nii Okaija replied in the affirmative and explained that the Ministry provides adequate security to officials of the Commission whenever they undertake public educational campaigns.

"We do not, however, undertake joint programmes with the NCCE to educate the public on the constitution", he said In an answer to a question whether it is not necessary for the police to educate the public on their limit of action in helping the law enforcement agents to ensure effective policing, Nii Okaija said members of the public who want to offer such assistance must formally inform the police administration.

Asked if in view of the spate of lynching in the country, public education on the constitution, especially on fundamental human rights and freedoms, are adequate, he said "the Commission does not report to the Ministry for us to ascertain whether the education is adequate or otherwise".

On the provision of police stations for districts and towns, Nii Okaija said it is the responsibility of the government to provide such facilities, but inadequate budgetary allocations would not make this possible at one go.

However, communities ready to provide office and residential accommodation for the police are taken out of turn and provided with police stations.

The Minister said in deciding which towns and districts should be provided with a police station, factors such as the population of area, level of crime, economic activities and social facilities are taken into consideration.

In an answer to a specific case in Sabronum in the Ahafo Ano South District, Nii Okaija told the questioner, Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South, that there are no immediate plans to open a police station in the town.

He explained, however, that the Ministry has tasked the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander to assess conditions whether the area qualifies for such a facility, and submit a report to the Police Administration for the appropriate response.

"The assignment is not yet completed, and to that extent, we have no immediate plans to provide Sabronum with a police station," he said.

On the rehabilitation of the police station at Juaso, which was burnt down during a mob attack, Nii Okaija said as a matter of policy, the Ministry has no immediate plans to undertake such a project and urged the people to rebuild the police station themselves.

"By allowing a section of the people to burn down the police station, the whole community should bear the consequences of the mob action".

Asked what plans the Ministry has to provide a suitable and permanent office and residential accommodation for the Asante Mampong Police, the Minister said the district headquarters, as well as the station, is in permanent buildings.

The Ministry intends to relocate the divisional headquarters from the "present deteriorating premises into a suitable rented accommodation as soon as it is practicable".

However, work on a permanent office and additional residential accommodation for the district and division would be considered in 2002, he added.

The Minister told a questioner that the construction of offices for the Dormaa Ahenkro Police Station and divisional headquarters is scheduled to begin in 2000.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 22^nd July 99

Parliament on Wednesday expressed grave concern about the spate of armed robbery in recent times and said one sure way to curb it is to reduce arms proliferation in the country.

Members were of the view that the use of arms by unauthorised people poses a big threat to the security of the state, and urged the security agencies to do everything possible to retrieve those arms.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akim North who made a statement on armed robbery in his constituency headlined "Armed Robbery - Threat to Local Investors - Konongo/Odumase Experience", recounted the "bitter experience" of people in the twin-town of Konongo/Odumase in the early hours of Wednesday, June two.

Mr Baah-Wiredu said due to lack of arms and ammunition, the two police personnel on duty could not face the 10 armed robbers, "who were dressed in police uniforms".

He stressed the need for towns and villages to rekindle interest in watchdog committees to complement the efforts of the police in combating crime in the country.

Associating himself with the statement, Mr Samuel Oppong, NDC-Agona West, narrated a similar incident at Agona Swedru, where 10 shops were burgled quite recently.

While calling on communities to revive the Asafo companies, Mr Oppong urged district assemblies to assist watchdog committees with logistics to enable them to guard and protect life and property.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Subin, said armed robbery poses a dangerous threat to national security and called for a non-partisan approach to address the issue.

Dr Kwabena Adjei, Majority Leader and MP for Biakoye, said the nation's protection against crimes is the responsibility of all and sundry.

Dr Adjei pointed out that without the human factor, the nation cannot move forward, and charged Ghanaians to do away with their apathetic attitude towards wrongdoing in the society.

Mr Mumuni Abudu Seidu, Majority Chief Whip and MP for Wa Central, blamed the spate of armed robbery in recent times on the use of imported arms.

Mr Francis Kwasi Buor, NPP-Offinso South, said armed robbery is a fast-spreading social canker that requires vigorous and effective measures to eliminate it.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 22^nd July 99 –

Parliament, by two votes of 123 to nil and 123 to nil, ratified two separate loan agreements between the government and two financial institutions in the Netherlands for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Accra-Tema and Winneba water supply systems.

The first, an amount of 31,255,724 Dutch guilders, is between the government and ABN-AMRO Bank to finance the Accra-Tema water supply project.

The second is for an amount of 9,950,000 Dutch guilders, between the government and the ING Bank of Netherlands to finance the Winneba water supply project.

However, before the resolutions were taken, the Minority drew attention to the fact that they had asked for certain documents and clarification from the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC), on whose behalf the loans are being contracted.

These include how the loan will impact on the evaluation of the corporation when it is privatised, the impact of the loan on future terms and how the corporation intends to pay for the loan.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, NPP-Afigya-Sekyere West, noted that the materials which had been provided did not provide satisfactory answers to the issues raised and said they be considered by the House at another time.

The Minority argued further that the corporation had difficulty in the past years in servicing its loans and had accumulated loans up to about 170.9 billion cedis as of last year.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akyem North explained that the Minority is concerned about water supply in Accra and Tema, as well as Winneba, and would therefore vote for the loans. However, it is important that the corporation is brought to book as far as their finances are concerned, he added.

Dr Kwabena Adjei, Majority Leader, explained that the government is aware that GWSC is accumulating loans and Parliament would, through the appropriate committee, ensure that the corporation handles its finances efficiently.

"The issues are very important, and we will find means of resolving it in the immediate future rather than hold the people of Accra and Winneba to ransom," Dr Adjei added.

After some discussion, both sides agreed to ratify the loan, after which the Minister of Works and Housing will be invited to explain related issues to the House before Parliament rises next week.

The loan for the Accra project is to be used for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Adam Clark Water Treatment Plant at Weija and for improving the distribution of water to western Accra.

The total cost of the project is estimated at 48.3 million Dutch guilders. The Dutch government is providing a grant of 16,930,005 guilders. It is expected to be completed within 24 months from the "effective date of contract".

The Winneba project also has an additional grant of 5,362,000, bringing the total cost of the project to 15,320,000 guilders. It is expected to be completed within 36 months from the effective date of contract.

A memorandum accompanying the loan agreement said the existing water supply system which serves the Winneba township is in a deplorable state and thus requires immediate action.

The rehabilitation aims at providing good drinking water to improve living conditions in the Winneba and surrounding villages, with particular reference to the new Winneba University College.

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